Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa bid a tearful goodbye to international football after his team went down 2-3 to England in a Round of 16 encounter at the FIFA World Cup.
Moments after the final whistle at Azteca Stadium, Ochoa broke down in tears as teammates and coaches gathered around him, aware they had just witnessed the end of one of the greatest careers in Mexican football.
Ochoa had already confirmed that he would retire from professional football, bringing the curtain down on a brilliant career spanning two decades and six FIFA World Cups.
Watch the video here:
Ochoa crying after the full time whistle. It’s his last game for Mexico after participating in six world cups 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/H0lIXBTr9T
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(@heis_fede) July 6, 2026
Ochoa is only the third footballer to feature in six FIFA World Cups, alongside the legendary duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Among those to pay tribute to Ochoa was Nike, which hailed him as a legend of Mexican football. The sportswear giant lauded not only his record-equalling sixth FIFA World Cup appearance but the leadership, professionalism and resilience as well, that defined his illustrious career.
Fans echoed those sentiments, thanking Ochoa for his unforgettable saves, iconic performances and unwavering commitment every time he represented Mexico.
A day packed with drama both on and off the field culminated in a thrilling showdown at Azteca Stadium, where 10-man England dug deep to edge Mexico 3-2 in a contest that more than lived up to its blockbuster billing.
Jude Bellingham appeared to have sent England cruising into the quarter-finals after scoring twice in the space of 98 seconds, giving the Three Lions a commanding 2-0 lead after 38 minutes.
Mexico responded through Julián Quiñones to cut the deficit to 2-1 before half-time and their hopes received a major boost in the 54th minute when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card after a VAR review.
